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Nature Camp Counselor

Nature Camp Counselor for Inspire Active Learning's Call of the Wild Camps

Hiring now for employment in nature camps for the 2026-2027 school year. You may apply to work in one or more sessions:

Second Saturdays (now through May) in Castro Valley, Berkeley, Oakland, and Hayward
Fall Break (November 23-25) in Oakland's redwoods
Winter Break (December 28-31) in Chabot Space and Science Center and Oakland's redwoods
Spring Break (March 29-April 2) in Oakland's redwoods

Do you love teaching children? Are you an avid hiker with a love of nature & the outdoors? Are you vegan? Nature Camp Counselors teach and lead children in learning about the outdoors, biology, environmental stewardship, ethical vegan values, and more through experiential learning, play, hikes, and exploration in outdoor nature camps. Open a door to the wonders of nature as a living classroom in Call of the Wild Camps, where kids in grades K-5 come to connect with nature, hike, read, write, explore, learn, & play!

Camp Type: day camp, nature camp, summer camp, elementary school level camp

APPLY: complete the application in the Google Form: https://forms.gle/1MnUShzPqnPxAFwH7. The application is also accessible on Inspire Active Learning's website www.inspireactivelearning.com. Only applicants who follow instructions are considered.

You may be the ideal Nature Camp Counselor if you are:

A communicative and collaborative team player bursting with creative ideas, fun, adaptable, friendly, outgoing, energetic, and eager to inspire and engage children in learning by doing.
Experienced in early childhood education, elementary education, outdoor education, environmental education, nature education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, and related fields.
Vegan or open-minded about veganism: “Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.” – The Vegan Society

WHO WE ARE: We believe that to inspire learning is to inspire action. We believe in experiential, lifelong learning. Outdoor educators in Call of the Wild Camps provide a fun, safe alternative to screen addiction; inspire nature connection and curiosity; and foster healthy, positive relationships with flora and fauna in our natural environments.

Essential Duties:

Complete training online and onsite at Call of the Wild Camps
Punctually and reliably attend scheduled work hours, rain or shine, including training, staff meetings, and camp session dates
Safely lead hikes in parks up to approx. 6 miles per day for K-5th graders in small groups
Maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio or ratio approved by the camp supervisor
Implement age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, K-5 level nature-themed science, outdoor education, language arts, art, and motor activities for Call of the Wild Camps
Supervise and engage children on occasional science museum & science center visits
Teach and facilitate fun and positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, and the environment
Teach and lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature and wilderness themes, including circle time with story time and singing, literary show-and-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, and authoring and illustrating books
Teach and facilitate science activities on topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, group discussion, games, children's books, and writing activities
Teach and engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation and education, such as nature-themed field games, hide and seek and chase games, forest "I Spy" games, and scavenger hunts
Teach and facilitate nature-themed arts and crafts
Engage children with a fun teaching style and high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
Supervise and facilitate children's rest breaks, snack and lunch breaks, and physical play breaks
Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities
Implement teaching and behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, and contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences and choices
Facilitate emergent curriculum and child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, and play-based teaching and learning opportunities
Create both structured and incidental learning opportunities
Keep work materials neat, organized, and in good working condition
Record accurate, objective incident reports
Drive by personal vehicle during the work shift for emergency or safety-related situations or to access reception as needed under supervisor direction
Follow the three camp rules: (1) be kind, (2) be safe, and (3) leave no trace, and make sure campers follow them
Follow all health and safety requirements, and make sure campers follow them
Follow all seven leave no trace principles, and make sure campers follow them
Actively contribute and participate in staff training and meetings
Proactively communicate camp questions and concerns with the camp director and supervisor
Follow directions and implement feedback from supervisors
Interact with students and staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, and professional manner
Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive and professional manner with customers, staff, and park visitors
Mentor and support Counselors in Training (CITs) participating in the internship program
Meet all of the physical requirements for the job, including standing, bending, sitting, squatting, walking, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., hiking up to approx. 6 miles per day on varied terrain in varied weather with a backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight, visual acuity for reading books, maps, interpretive panels, and signs
Perform other duties as assigned

APPLY: you must complete the application in order to apply. Google Form link: https://forms.gle/1MnUShzPqnPxAFwH7. The application is also accessible on Inspire Active Learning's website www.inspireactivelearning.com. Only applicants who follow instructions are considered.

Required Qualifications:

Required Education:

Proof of your high school diploma or higher degree
Most recent academic transcript (unofficial is permitted) in good standing with a 3.5 minimum GPA. If your school does not provide grades, you do not qualify for this position.
Proof of a declared major or minor in a relevant discipline or completion of one or more relevant courses, such as biology, environmental science, or education

Certification and Safety Requirements:

Proof of CPR and First Aid certification that remains unexpired through all camps dates you are applying to work. The only accepted CPR and First Aid certification involves passing a live skills assessment with an instructor. Entirely asynchronous online courses are not accepted.
Proof of TB clearance completed within 4 years of the camp session start date.
Pass a DOJ and FBI background check.

Required Experience:

Minimum 12 months of experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, naturalist, recreation leader, coach, instructor, or classroom teacher working in person with GROUPS of elementary school age children at K-5th grade level, ages 5-10. Babysitting or nannying are not equivalent experience.
Frequent, regular experience hiking, trail running, or backpacking trails on varied terrain at least 6 miles in a day
Experience working in person with culturally, linguistically, and developmentally diverse children
Experience working in person with students with widely diverse abilities, such as giftedness, typically developing children, children with disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language delays), and English Language Learners (ELL)
Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities in person for groups of children in grades K-5, ages 5-10
Experience implementing effective and appropriate behavior management in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10
Experience with child development and implementing age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10

APPLY: https://forms.gle/1MnUShzPqnPxAFwH7

Required Skills:

Ability to model and educate about veganism as more than a diet
Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly and uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day five days a week for multiple consecutive weeks
Ability to carry a hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day
Ability to meet all other physical requirements for the job, including standing, bending, sitting, squatting, walking, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., and visual acuity for reading books, maps, interpretive panels, and signs
Demonstrate a fun and engaging leadership style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
Friendly, kind, caring, compassionate, and patient teaching style for learners of all skill levels
Eagerness and openness to continually learn and develop your skill set
Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple and easy steps
Excellent time-management and organizational skills
Outstanding oral and written communication skills
Eco-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of nature and the outdoors
You can articulate how veganism benefits animals, health, and the environment
Health-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of active and healthy living
Enthusiasm for nature-themed language arts and literacy teaching
Enthusiasm for making education relevant to children's lives
Demonstrate care for children and a desire to help the whole child learn and grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to subject-matter competence in language arts and relevant life sciences

APPLY: https://forms.gle/1MnUShzPqnPxAFwH7

Other Requirements:

You are an adult (age 18 or older) or will be an adult before the start date of the camp session
Proof of a valid California driver's license
Proof of auto insurance

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience hiking in the parks where you are applying to work
You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society and as described on Inspire's website here: https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/what-is-veganism

APPLY: https://forms.gle/1MnUShzPqnPxAFwH7

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

Have fun teaching and inspiring kids in the great outdoors!
Employees get paid training; paid rest breaks; off-duty lunch breaks; and retirement plan if working at least 30 days
Referral bonus
Supportive and friendly environment with coaching and mentorship
Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee’s and student’s happiness and success!

LOCATIONS:

Saturday Camps: different parks, forests, science centers, and nature centers across the East Bay. See Inspire Active Learning's website for more details: https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/call-of-the-wild-saturday-nature-camps
Fall Break Camp: Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland.
Winter Break Camp: Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Oakland. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland.
Spring Break Camp: Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland.

SCHEDULE:

Initial Training: two dates before the start date of camp sessions
Saturday Camps: second Saturdays now through May, 8:55 AM-5:05 PM
Fall Break Camp: November 23-25, Monday-Wednesday, 8:25 AM-4:35 PM
Winter Break Camp: December 28-31, Monday-Thursday, 8:25 AM-4:35 PM
Spring Break Camp: March 29-April 2, 8:25 AM-4:35 PM

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt employee for temporary, seasonal work.

COMPENSATION: $21.00/hr - $23.00/hr DOE

RECRUITMENT PROCESS:

1) Application

2) Interview via Google Meet for qualified applicants

3) Employment verification, plus reference checks with two supervisors who have overseen your work with children

4) Conditional job offers are made to selected candidates

5) Final job offers are made, contingent upon successfully completing all requirements for hire

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